Graphic - Viewer discretion advised: Suspected kidnappers set ablaze in Ekiti

A group of youths burnt a suspected kidnapper at Odo Oja in Ikere-Ekiti, Ekiti State to death yesterday.

The suspect, a person in his late forties, was allegedly found in possession of a kid’s body about 7:40am at Mashood on Mofere Street at Eyitayo Estate.

It was learnt that about 50 youths stripped the person bare and beat him right into a coma. They put about to used tyres on him, doused him in petrol and set him ablaze.

According to an eye witness,  “The man was initially handed over to the Oodua local vigilance group. We expected them to torture him but they (the vigilance group members) did no such thing. They kept him there and wasted our time. At a point we got angry and took him to the main road and burnt him.”

The police warned residents against taking the law into their hands, adding that “the command will deal with whoever is found engaging in such”.

Police spokesman Victor Babayemi told reporters in Ado-Ekiti that the incident was “regrettable and inhuman”.

Babayemi said: “The action of Ikere youths is condemnable and regrettable. There is no jungle justice in Nigeria’s Laws. It is barbaric for people to kill and set ablaze a suspect without resorting to security agencies. This will not be tolerated.”

He said the command was investigating the matter to expose the identities of the masterminds of the killing.

Babayemi said a middle-aged woman, Mrs. Lola Adebayo, was arrested for allegedly assaulting her nine-year-old maid, Blessing Akinyemi.

Graphic - Viewer discretion advised: Suspected kidnappers set ablaze in Ekiti